Eyedea

Micheal David Larsen (November 9, 1981 – October 16, 2010), better known by his stage name Eyedea, was an American musician, rapper, and poet.

He was a freestyle battle champion and songwriter from Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Larsen had appeared as a solo artist under the pseudonym Oliver Hart, and as the MC half of the duo Eyedea & Abilities (along with longtime friend and collaborator DJ Abilities).

He was first signed to Slug's independent hip-hop label Rhymesayers Entertainment before founding his own record label, Crushkill Recordings.

Eyedea first stepped into the hip-hop scene battling against other emcees at notable freestyle competitions.

Eyedea became known as a battle MC, touring the circuit between 1997 and 2001.

Notable wins included a victory at Scribble Jam (1999) and the televised Blaze Battle sponsored by HBO (2000), which was hosted by KRS-One.

Following the win, he won an impressive portion of money, but was also offered a higher cut if he signed a record contract with hip hop mogul P. Diddy, to which he declined, instead helping build Rhymesayers Entertainment from the ground up.

Notable hip-hop outlets have labeled Eyedea as a freestyle pioneer.

Eyedea has released numerous albums alongside DJ Abilities where the two performed under the duo name "Eyedea & Abilities".

In 1999, he made his first national appearance on the Anticon compilation, Music for the Advancement of Hip Hop.

He also toured extensively as second MC and support DJ for Atmosphere.

During this time, he won top prizes at Scribble Jam '99, the Rock Steady Anniversary 2000, and Blaze Battle New York 2000.

These battles included him beating notable artists such as Immortal Technique, P.E.A.C.E and PackFM.

In 2001, Eyedea & Abilities released their debut studio album First Born, which included their successful single "Big Shots".

The single was later chosen to appear on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4.

In 2001, he released First Born with his partner DJ Abilities (collectively, they were initially called the Sixth Sense, but later changed the name to Eyedea & Abilities).

In 2002, under his pen name "Oliver Hart", he released the self-produced The Many Faces of Oliver Hart, or: How Eye One the Write Too Think.

In 2004, Eyedea & Abilities released their second studio album titled E&A, which included the singles "Paradise" & "Man vs Ape".

In 2004, he reunited with Abilities to release the self-titled album E&A.

All of Eyedea's releases have been on the Rhymesayers record label, with the exception of the Carbon Carousel EP, which was released on his own Independent music label, Crushkill Recordings.

In addition to touring independently and with Rhymesayers labelmates and members of Face Candy, Eyedea & Abilities participated in the Def Jux-sponsored "Who Killed the Robots?"

tour, titled by Eyedea.

He was signed to Rhymesayers Entertainment and collaborated with Slug of the underground hip hop group Atmosphere as well as Sage Francis, Aesop Rock, and Blueprint.

He was also a member of the hip hop collective and super group "The Orphanage" along with Slug, Aesop Rock, Blueprint, & Illogic.

Although never releasing a full CD to the public, songs were recorded and released.

After Eyedea released This Is Where We Were, recorded with his live freestyle rap/jazz group Face Candy, he created Carbon Carousel, an alternative rock band.

They have released one EP, entitled The Some of All Things, or: The Healing Power of Scab Picking.

This brought on speculation that Eyedea & Abilities were no longer together.

However, in August 2007, the duo announced on their Myspace that they would be at the Twin Cities Celebration of Hip-Hop performing old songs and new material.

In December 2007, Eyedea & Abilities embarked upon their Appetite for Distraction Tour with Crushkill labelmate Kristoff Krane and Minnesotan duo Sector7G.

In 2007, Eyedea created a book of poetry and art with painter Louis N. LaPierre, who is also responsible for Face Candy's 'This Is Where We Were' album art.

The book was titled Once A Queen... Always A Creep.

Only 80 copies were made.

In July 2009, Eyedea & Abilities released their third and final studio album called By the Throat, which was followed by highly acclaimed positive ratings.

The summer of 2009 saw Eyedea & Abilities joining the touring hip hop festival Rock the Bells for a limited number of dates, performing alongside such acts as Sage Francis, Evidence, M.O.P. and the Knux.

In 2014, Eyedea ranked #2 on Abbey Magazine's Top 25 'greatest freestyle emcees of all-time'.

Eyedea grew up near Saint Paul, Minnesota, with his mother Kathy Averill, who gave birth to him when she was seventeen years old.

He is of Irish and Lebanese descent.

He attended Highland Park Senior High School.